The diary of a priest, being random thoughts and various things of possible interest from the founding pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Church in San Antonio, Texas.

09 August 2014

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Saint Lawrence was one of seven deacons in Rome in charge of
giving help to the poor and the needy. In fact, during the first centuries of
the Church, the number of deacons for any bishop was limited to seven,
following the precedent of Jerusalem. It
was said of Lawrence that he was to Rome, what Stephen was to Jerusalem.

When a persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus was condemned to death. As
he was led to execution, Lawrence followed him weeping, "Father, where are
you going without your deacon?" he said. "I am not leaving you, my
son," answered the Pope. "in three days you will follow me."
Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand and
even sold expensive vessels to have more to give away.

The Prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great
fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to
him. The Saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and
gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he
showed them to the Prefect, he said: "This is the Church's treasure!"

In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death.
The Saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his
flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that
he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and
joy that he even joked. "Turn me over," he said to the judge.
"I'm done on this side!" And just before he died, he said, "It's
cooked enough now." Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be
converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith might spread all over the world.
After that, he went to receive the martyr's reward. Saint Lawrence's feast day
is August 10th.

Almighty God, who didst call thy deacon St. Lawrence to serve thee with deeds of love, and didst give him the crown of martyrdom: Grant we beseech thee, that we, following his example, may fulfill thy commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving thee with all our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

The Holy Deacon Lawrence before the Emperor Valerius.

The grill on which St. Lawrence was martyred.

The stone on which the body of St. Lawrence was laid after his martyrdom.

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A little about me

Fr. Phillips is the founding pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church, the first Anglican Use parish, established on August 15, 1983.
Not that there is any confusion, but he is on the left, shown in his younger, less gray-headed days.

"With all my heart, I bless you and your people..."

In 1983 I was a newly-ordained priest. In November of that year, it was my privilege to be in Rome to take part in developing The Book of Divine Worship. During that time an invitation was extended to celebrate Mass with His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in his private chapel. After we had said Mass, and in those few moments I had with the Holy Father, he told me that he remembered considering the request for my ordination, and he described how he came to an affirmative decision. For me, our brief conversation was an experience which will be treasured forever. At the conclusion of our time together, I asked him if I could take his blessing back to the people of my parish. His very simple words remain precious to me: "With all my heart, I bless you and your people." He then embraced me, and I knew that I was forever "home in my Father's house."